Latin Americanists have long had reason to welcome the annual appearances of the Handbook of Latin American Studies. The latest volume represents a departure from the familiar system which is likely to enhance the value of the series. Henceforth the Handbook will consist of two parts, humanities and social sciences, each to be published in alternate years. This volume, on humanities, is a guide to recent publications (mainly during 1961-63) in art, history, Latin American language, literature, music, and philosophy. A social science volume including anthropology, economics, education, geography, government and international relations, law, and sociology is scheduled for publication in the fall of 1965. Probably not many historians will object to the inclusion of their discipline in the humanities volume, though the nature of much historical activity in the Latin American field would argue for identification with the social sciences.
The present volume justifies the hope of the editors that the new arrangement would result in more completeness and more thoughtful commentaries. The bibliography section has been considerably expanded. The section on art contains models of pungent summaries to guide the scholar and general reader.
The history section occupies the most space of any of the disciplines. Charles Gibson, in a general introduction, notes the large volume of output, the numerous translations, and a shift in emphasis from the colonial to the national period. Spanish historians have been very active in the Latin American field, and scholarly interest on the part of United States and both Eastern and Western European students is booming. Latin Americans produce many popular works, some professional and some partisan, but seldom concern themselves with countries other than their own. One might question Gibson’s contention that recent historians are too reluctant to contribute meaningfully to analyses of the present. Mexican historiography has grown to the point that the present volume divides the national period at 1910. Luis González y González comments on the stimulus provided by the anniversaries of the 5 de mayo de 1862 and of Morelos’ triumphs. Stanley R. Ross notes many works, but few of great merit, in the post-Revolution period. David D. Burks observes that writings on Central America have been for the most part few and mediocre. In the case of the West Indies, he and Arturo Santana see something of a cultural flowering under the Castro revolution but few works of scholarly soundness except several by United States authors.
The colonial period of Spanish South America, according to Lino G. Canedo, attracts far more South American and European scholars than American. The independence period features originality mainly on the part of Argentine writers, though, as David Bushnell reports, recent production in most nations continues heavy. J. Leon Helguera finds Colombian historical publication disappointing in volume and quality but that of Peru and Venezuela more impressive. Mario Rodríguez describes works on southern South America as numerous and noteworthy in calibre, particularly institutional and economic history. George C. A. Boehrer, on the other hand, judges Brazilian output of late as sparse.
As for language, the major publications deal with American Spanish rather than Portuguese to a lopsided degree. In literature, Arnold Chapman notes a flood of writings and some disturbing trends, but on the whole signs that unrestraint and provincialism are being exorcised. Irving A. Leonard applauds the effects of the paperback revolution and translations, which are bringing even esoteric works into easy reach. Cuba is producing numerous books of literature, though few are judged outstanding. In northern South America the social trend in fiction is dominant. In the south novels deal more with universal themes of the human condition. Bernard Gicovate treats with admitted severity the quality of Spanish American poetry and criticism, which is voluminous as always. Frank Dauster finds in the drama an increasing awareness of the influence of urbanization. Brazilian literature strikes Ralph E. Dimmick and Benjamin M. Woodbridge, Jr. as showing vitality but little distinction. Naomi M. Garrett notes the increasing literary output of Haiti and a developing pride in the heritage of this blighted country.
Music, according to Gilbert Chase, still emphasizes the primitive, folk, and popular. In philosophy, an abiding interest in phenomenology and existentialism is conspicuous.
In all, Latin Americanists can only applaud this monumental bibliography and the recent effort to give it more depth and flexibility. A researcher who is disappointed over the omission of an important article or book can be consoled with the thought that a future volume will probably compensate for it. A few human errors can be excused, even in the occasional omission of comments or the unsatisfactory character of a few summaries, when 2,500 items are treated. It is also gratifying that the present Handbook contains so few typographical errors.
